Tot Time returns to Dickson Mounds

Friday

Jan 6, 2017 at 11:01 AM

The snow and bitterly cold temperatures may have kept the attendance somewhat lower than anticipated for Tot Time, but that didn't stop those in attendance Thursday from having an awesome time while learning some valuable information.

Deb RobinsonEditor

The snow and bitterly cold temperatures may have kept the attendance somewhat lower than anticipated for Tot Time, but that didn't stop those in attendance Thursday from having an awesome time while learning some valuable information.

Christa Foster, Dickson Mounds Museum Assistant Curator of Education, led the program which was not only the first of the year, but the first since 2015.

The hiatus was due to the budget crisis that forced the closure of museums and other entities that depend upon funding from Springfield state wide.

Tot Time originally started in 2014 and is held the first Thursday of each month. It is geared towards toddlers, but during the summer months older, school-aged siblings are welcome.

Foster said attendance varies, "We average around 50 (children), but that can change from month to month. We've had buses pull up before. We've had upwards of 185 children depending on the program."

Foster focuses on a different topic each month. For January she focused on music and how Native Americans would have used various resources available to them to make music.

For example she explained to the youngsters gathered how they would have used a turtle to first eat the meat and then used the shell to make music.

After a brief introduction to Native American music practices, she showed them a table of supplies they could use to make their own musical instruments similar to what Native Americans would have used.

There were containers to make drums, beads and strings to make bracelets, paper plates, coloring materials to make turtles and other items to make rattles.

Said Foster, "Go crazy! Make all kinds of instruments!"

After their instruments were constructed they were allowed to walk around and make as much noise as they wanted after which they enjoyed snack time which was made possible by Hy-Vee who donated treats.

Tot Time is sponsored by Havana National Bank and GM Mechanical in Canton. However, they are always looking for additional sponsors.

If interested in becoming a sponsor or if you would like additional information regarding Tot Time, contact Christa Foster, 309-547-3721 or email, christa.foster@illinois.gov.

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